MTG: Top 20 Angels

Angels have been around since the very beginning of MTG. They’re a very much part of the MTG world and angels have appeared in many sets. There have been over sixty printed so far, and more are on the way! However, what are the best angels? Let’s find out!

Honorable Mention: Akroma’s Memorial

Though technically not an angel, this card turns all your creatures into the one of the most insane cards ever! They all turn into Akroma, Angel Of Wrath! Or rather, they gain all her abilities. It’s a card that costs a lot but is so worth it. Why bother putting Akroma, Angel Of Wrath in a deck when you can pay the same amount of mana and have an army of them? Why indeed? Well, mostly cause Akroma, Angel Of Wrath is cool. Now onto real angels…

#20 Angel Of Despair

Ugh, I’d be in despair too if this were my rare in a booster pack. All joking aside, this isn’t a terrible card, just not the best of the angels on this list. It has a high cost and destroys a permanent. If it only destroyed a creature then it would be terrible. If it had flash as well then it would be a much better card, but as it stands it is merely a big flying creature that happens to do something else.

#19 Luminous Angel

This card is a little hefty in its mana cost, but it generates some nice flying chump blockers for you. This illustration kicks the crap out of the original from Mirrodin. Based solely on illustration, this one would be in the top ten, but because of its less than desirable casting cost it comes in near the bottom of our list.

#18 Seraph

Here’s an old and interesting angel. This one steals your opponent’s creatures! A weird trait for a white card, but one that nobody would complain about! Once again, the mana cost is a little high. If it was a 5/5 instead of a 4/4 it would be much better, however it isn’t bad the way it is. Anyhow, this card simply resurrects creatures to fight for you! It’s like the precursor to Adarkar Valkyrie (which we’ll talk about later).

lol careful tagging your articles “top 10″ I think I have already made one of these thanks

Brad, posted this comment on Jul 9th, 2009

Red Akroma does have trample. I still don’t think it’s better than the original because the original has pro black, and alot of the spells that can take this out by themselves are black (terror, banishing etc). I guess the red one has pro white which somewhat balances the loss of pro black as white has path to exhile, swords, etc.

I don’t think platinum should be number one though as it doesn’t win you games by itself… it just prevents you from losing (and is succeptible to alot more removal than your standard angels ’cause it dies to artifact hate). I think with magic2010 coming out the new Baneslayer angel should be at the top of your list.

i don’t think so, but i should be around number two or three. however, i did make this list before that card existed

Yitzhak, posted this comment on Jul 29th, 2009

No exalted angel? Please tell me you just forgot.

dangthing, posted this comment on Aug 27th, 2009

Seriously Platinum angel for 1? Baneslayer is a way better card and so is Pristine Angel and so is Akroma, Angel of Wrath. Platinum is only good if it is also indestructible with shroud. I can terror it, I can Path to exile it, I can double lightning bolt it, I can terminate it. Its way to much of a target to be on the list anywhere near the bottom.

Pristine Angel deserves spot 5 plus, on its own its a nearly unbeatable blocker, give it the ability to double block and its amazing, give it vigilance and it will win you the game.

Baneslayer is unbelievable give it Akroma\’s memorial and its almost invincible.

dangthing, your post makes very little sense. Pristine Angel may be worth more, i consent to that. however, your other comments are a little silly. this list was created before Baneslayer Angel was printed, so it obviously is not on this list.

It is also silly to say how easily Platinum Angel can be destroyed by terminate, path to exhile, or etc, as those spells can also just as easily take out Baneslayer Angel (though Akroma is harder to hit because of its pro red and black). Also, you can’t use Terror on Platinum Angel because it is an artifact creature. Furthermore, saying that Baneslayer with Akroma’s Memorial is invincible is stupid. Any card on this list with Akroma’s Memorial is almost invincible.

In conclusion, you’re right about Pristine Angel, but Platinum Angel stays number one. And since Baneslayer wasn’t a card when this list was created, I’d say it falls right behind Akroma (white). I appreciate your comments, but disagree nearly completely

dangthing, posted this comment on Aug 29th, 2009

When I said terror I actually meant Doom Blade, doom blade is a new version of terror that can kill Artifact creatures as well, sorry for that mistake. Also I think I was unclear about why Platinum Angel is not a good card, in my opinion.

Yes your right you can use path, terror, etc on Baneslayer. However most angel cards, including Baneslayer are better than Platinum angel for other reasons.

Platinum Angel is only a 4/4 creature, yet it has a mana cost of (7). The only abilities it has is, you can’t lose, and Flying. Most Angel Card that cost (7) mana or even less have a larger power/toughness as well as a more abilities which are better than Platinum Angels.

Platinum Angel can be very good. Its ability “you can’t lose, your opponents can’t win.” Is very attractive, however unless your deck is built around protecting Platinum Angel this ability is pointless. It in no way makes the creature a better fighter, defensive or offensive.

Unlike almost every other Angel, Platinum Angel will become almost every other players #1 target the moment it hits the field, because they will assume that you are going to make it as invincible as possible. Even though kills and removal spells can kill most angels, most players will not kill your angels the moment the hit the field because they aren’t actually ultra dangers yet.

Platinum loses its goodness not because it has a bad ability, but because it will be killed the moment it hits the field making it a waste of (7) mana and probably a turn as well. Also platinum angel can be killed by Destroy Artifact spells as well, while other angels cannot.

Also as for saying that Baneslayers not on the list because the list was made before its time…you can’t seriously tell me that you can’t update the list, your obviously still paying attention to it.

true, i could update this list, and probably will, but not for a while since zendikar is only about a month or two away and i’m fairly lazy when it comes to updates. howerver, i see your point and agree that platinum angel is quite the big target and offers hardly any combative edge. I feel that Baneslayer (or Akroma) is the best angel in terms of combat and Platinum Angel is the best in terms of abilities (despite having some downsides). Also, Platinum Angel is a cool card to stick in any deck since it’s colorless. A favorite in casual MTG

fa_shizzel, posted this comment on Nov 18th, 2009

Kind of dissapointed, fair enough baneslayer wasn’t printed when you wrote this, but platinum as #1?
cmonnn!
Once you have him out on the field your opponent controls the game, because you have a sense of security, and then your taking the damage thinking itll be fine, then he pops out a wrath of god, day of judgement, path to exile.. etc.
His definitely one of the coolest angels, but not the best.
I also think you rated Serra angel too lowly, sure shes only a 3/3, BUT she gives you soooo much tempo, and its such a good beatstick.
And what happend to Exalted angel? She is like.. top 5, easy.. one of the most playable angels.

exalted angel is definetly mysteriously absent. to be honest, i forgot about her when i made this list! i don’t quite agree on serra angel, but it is still a good card. I feel that platinum angel is the best though because you could give the same argument about someone using path to exile or wrath of god on any of the other angels here. it’s not like someone won’t try to do the same thing to Akroma. however, while i’m taking the time to comment, i will give a quick rank of where baneslayer falls. it’s at about 2 or 3. i hesitate to put it below Akroma, despite it being much more playable. it doesn’t have as many sweet abilities, you know? the lifelink is the best part in my opinion.

I think this is a typo, but why is the Angle of Dispair and Seraph both #18? Also, I think that Platinum Angle is better then many of these blogers think. Yes, it has a large target painted on its head, but it is still quite useful. Also concerning that card, what would happen if 2 of those angels were played on opposite sides of the field? If no one can win or lose, does the game go one forever? Can you get milled with this card out?

yes, that is a typo and i’m fixing it. eventually i’ll add some more of the newer angel cards to this list. anyway, in regards to your question about two Platinum Angels, the game could conceivably go on forever. As long as both players control a Platinum Angel no one can win or lose. You can get milled, but won’t lose from the milling. The game will not end and will not be a tie, unless the players decided to call it as such. 2 Platinum Angels is a pretty funny situation

What if those 2 were in the finals of a tournamet? That would be awfull.

Hell_Venture, posted this comment on Dec 15th, 2009

Baneslayer is a good card for its cost but its all not what its cracked up to be but for five mana its a good card

chris t, posted this comment on Mar 29th, 2010

It doesnt matter when Baneslayer was printed!
The best angel by far!
platinum angel sucks unless you have some way for indestrucable or shroud.
And exatled angel is a 4th turn 4/5 lifelink!
Baneslayer should be #1 and exalted angel should be 6th
Also, Akroma sucks because she costs 8!
But if your going to have 8 or 9 mana cost angels how about Iona Sheild of Emeria?
7ww
creature-angel mythic-zendikar
when cardname enters the battle field choose a color
Oppenents cant cast spells of the chosen color
7/7

Baneslayer is not the god of MTG. It’s good, but not that good. I will not be putting it as the best angel. Exalted Angel, Iona, and Baneslayer will be on this list at some point in the future

Rafa, posted this comment on Oct 5th, 2010

I am interested to how angels are portrayed in modern society, whether it be in movies, video games, comics, television shows, or even card games as shown here…God bless, everyone!

divinerevelations.info

Roblin the Goblin, posted this comment on Nov 8th, 2011

This is more than a year later lol but I also agreed with putting Baneslayer a year ago on this. A card that was considered not only the best angel, but one of the best creatures ever made by a huge majority of players deserves a top spot. It rocked tournaments hardcore, and became valued over $50. Everyone sideboarded because of it. Platinum angel is good only if you protect it or its useless (I use it in two decks cause I love it so much though), while Akroma is almost the right cost for its abilities (let alone the fact you’d die by Baneslayer turns before Akroma could hit play). Alone Baneslayer is way overpowered for its cost. I mean magic used to be 6 mana for a 5/5 Flying. This is 5 mana for a 5/5 Flying plus first strike, plus lifelink, plus limited protection. The only creatures even considered on this level of creature alone without combos are the Titans. It’s like making a top planeswalker blog without even putting Jace, The Mindsculptor in it, let alone in 1st (I get it that you did this before Baneslayer came out though). Half the angels you put near the top weren’t ever worth anything nor did they make it anywhere in competitive play, which is cool because “best” is an opinion and its your opinion but that’s so mean to some of the better angels lol =P

twan, posted this comment on Mar 30th, 2012

uhm.. i think you forgot exalted angel in this list!

twan, posted this comment on Mar 30th, 2012

uhm.. i think you forgot exalted angel in this list!

Jack, posted this comment on Apr 17th, 2012

Personally i think that the art for Akroma is way better with the newer work. More angelic, imposing and foreboding than a half okay action portrait. Just my opinion.